Washboard for use in sinks



Sept. 6, 1938. J. H. ADAMS WASHBOARD FOR USE IN SINKS Filed April 16,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l I II 1 W TORNEYS Sept. 6, 1938. J. H. ADAMS2,129,079-

WASHBOARD FOR USE IN SINKS Filed April 16, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet 2INVENTOR d ATTZZIIIZ Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICEApplication April 16,

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of washboard construction andmore particularly to washboard for use in a sink.

Washboards of various types have long been made for use in laundry traysand wash tubs. Of late years, however, the increasing popularity ofapartments has created a demand for a washboard that can be convenientlyused with sinks, wash basins and bath tubs made after the mode of modernplumbing fixtures. These quite often have a curved bottom and a fairlywide rim. Under such conditions it is difiicult to use the ordinarywashboard or even the washboards which are provided with brackets andthe like for securing them to wash tubs. Many devices have been createdfor clamping a washboard to a wash tub but modern plumbing fixtures areinvariably finished with enamel or porcelain and it is difficult indeedto clamp any board to the same. With my present washboard I haveprovided hook like arrangements which are adapted to engage the outermargin of the bowl or sink and when the user presses against an upwardextension of the board it is held securely in this position most desiredfor general use.

The principal object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide awashboard which may be conveniently used in a modern wash bowl, sink orbathtub.

A further object of my invention is to provide a washboard which can beused with modern plumbing fixtures, will be secure when in use and whichmay be easily stored away after its period of use has ended.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a washboard whichwill be convenient to use but which can be made entirely of metal sothat it can be sterilized in hot water and kept in clean and sanitarycondition.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a perspective view showing my washboard as it would be madein the smaller sizes.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the manner ofsecuring the washboards corrugated surface in place and also theprotective foot arrangement.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View showing a portion of the washboard infront view.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through a washbowl ofconventional design and showing how my washboard is used in conjunctiontherewith.

1935, Serial No. 16,662

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of my washboard as it would beconstructed where it is desirable to fold the supporting members of thewashboard for more convenient packaging and storage.

Figure 6 is a View in perspective showing the members comprising thehinge of my foldable, hook member.

Figure 7 illustrates in perspective the manner in which my washboardwill be used when it is provided with foldable hook members.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference charactersindicate like parts, 8

designates the corrugated plate forming the rubbing surface of mywashboard. This I prefer to form of sheet metal in a manner common inwashboard construction. This member is further stiffened and supportedby frame Ill. This frame it is preferably formed of strap metal.

Frame H) is formed of the upper side bars l2 and I 4 which extendupwardly to some distance above plate 8 and down somewhat below theplate so as to form the rest portions 65 and IE. At the extremities ofthe rest portions 55 and I6 I provide a return bend as at 8, and extendthe metal upwardly on the under side of plate 8 so as to form the lowerside members 26 and 2|, respectively. Board 8 is held between the upperand lower side members and secured in the desired position, preferablyby a plurality of rivets, 22, although with certain types of metal itmight be more desirable to spot weld the same in a number of places. Ata point well above board B I provide bends 24 and 25 and the restportion 26. This I prefer to present a flat surface for the operator tolean against. This necessitates the bend in the fiat material at 21 and28.

To secure the washboard against being pushed into the bowl I provide theoutwardly extending hook members and 32. These members may be made asshown in Figure 1 from an extension of the lower side members 20 and 2|,by providing bends at 34 and 35 and the outwardly extending portions 31and 38. This construction normally can only be used in the smaller sizesof this board wherein the board proper, 8, is of such a size as tohandle small items of lingerie, handkerchiefs, stockings and the like.Even then it must be made of strap material that affords considerableresistance to distortion. Then too if the side of the board isconsiderable or approaching the standard size washboards the hookmembers 30 and 32 add a great deal to the required storage space andrequire excessive space in the transportation of the units. To overcomethis condition I Iii have provided the modified form shown in Figures 5,6 and 7 in which the lower side members 2| terminate in a hook member 40which is curved to form slightly more than one-half of a circle.

' The hook members 42 are formed with a circular loop or eye 44 adaptedto fit the inner surface of hook 40 so as, in effect, to form a hingejoint. In order to prevent end movement which would tend to uncouple thehook unit from the main frame of the washboard, I provide that the hookmember be slotted as at 46 and that a headed dowel pin 41 may be securedbetween the upper and lower side members and pass through opening 48 inhook member 49. This arrangement does not interfere with the freehinging of member 42 but does prevent its transverse movement andpossible displacement.

Hook members 42 are provided at their extreme ends with a straightportion 50 formed as a tangent of eye 44 and adapted to form a stop orrest when it abuts frame member 2|, as indicated at Figure 7. Thisstraight portion 50 is so arranged that when the unit is unfolded as inFigure 7 it will tend to arrest the downward movement of hook 42 beforesupport member 52 becomes engaged in notch 54. The final engagement innotch 54 being accomplished by springing, to a degree, the flat members29, 2! and 42. This spring tension tends to seat the support member 52securely when the device is unfolded as in Figure 7. Support 52 ispivotally secured to hook members 42 as by depressing the metal at 56and expanding it at 58 so as to form a seat for the preferably roundstock of support 52. When the frame is folded after the showing ofFigure 5 support member 52 folds in between the hook members and therest member 26, thus making for economy in storage space required andmaking the shipping of the unit more economical in that there will beless waste space in the cartons or packing cases.

In using my present device it is applied to a wash bowl or tub after theshowing of Figure 4. The hook members prevent the device being forcedinto the bowl even though considerable pressure is applied by the userat 26. At the extreme end of rest portions !5 and I6 I provide anon-metallic foot 60. This can be formed from fibre, rubber or any othersuitable material.

It will be apparent it is believed that as long as there is inwardpressure on rest 26 the board will be held in secure position and not bedislodged by rubbing incidental to the normal use of a washboard.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed toclearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will beunderstood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that suchchanges in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope andspirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A washboard comprising a U-shaped frame of a single strip of metal orthe like having return bends at the free ends of the legs to formportions extending along but spaced from the legs and a rubbing platesecured between said legs and their spaced portions.

2. A washboard comprising a U-shaped frame of a single strip of metal orthe like having its upper end bent backwardly at an angle to form apressing bar and the ends of the legs having integral return bends toform portions extending along the back of, but spaced from, the legs,said portions at their upper ends terminating in hooks havingdown-turned ends beneath the pressing bar, and a rubbing plate securedbetween said legs and their spaced portions.

3. A washboard comprising a U-shaped frame having its upper end bentbackwardly at an angle to form a pressing bar, the legs of said framebeing notched on their under sides adjacent said bar, and the ends ofthe legs having integral return bends to form portions extending alongthe back of, but spaced from, the legs, the upper ends of said returnbends being curved downwardly to form bearings, a pair of angular hookseach having an end journaled in said bearings and means for preventinglateral movement of said hooks, the angles of said hooks beinglongitudinally expanded to form bearings, and a bail having its endsjournaled in said latter bearings and said bail adapted for engagementwith said notches.

4. A washboard comprising a U-shaped frame having its upper end bentbackwardly at an angle to form a pressing bar, the legs of said framebeing notched on their under sides adjacent said bar, and the ends ofthe legs having integral return bends to form portions extending alongthe back of, but spaced from, the legs; the upper end of said returnbends being curved downwardly to form bearings, a pair of angular hookshaving upturned ends each terminating in a loop and journaled in saidbearings, said loops having arcuate slots therein and a pin attached toeach said return bends and engaging a slot for limiting the lateralmovement of said hooks, the angles of said hooks being longitudinallyexpanded to form bearings, and a bail having its ends journaled in saidlatter bearings and said bail adapted for engagement with said notches.

JOHN H. ADAMS.

